The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has denied allegations that its officers opened fire on members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) during a violent takeover of the union’s national secretariat in Abuja, even as it confirmed the arrest of seven suspects, including former NURTW president Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa
In a statement on Monday, police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh said videos circulating on social media claiming that officers shot at union members were “false, misleading, and aimed at stirring public sentiment.” According to the police, a distress call was received around 7:00 a.m. on March 23, reporting that about 300 individuals armed with cutlasses, bottles, bows and arrows had stormed the NURTW headquarters on Sapele Street, Garki II, and were removing items from the premises.
Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Isyaku Sharu, led a rapid response team to the scene.
Preliminary investigations, the police said, revealed that the group was attempting to enforce a court order without the presence of court sheriffs or authorized officials; a move that quickly escalated into a violent confrontation when other NURTW members resisted.
The clash left one victim with deep machete wounds to the neck, according to the police. Officers at the scene rescued the injured man, while several others with varying degrees of injuries were taken to a nearby hospital. Baruwa, six other suspects were arrested the scene. They include: Sulaiman A. Musa, Nasiru Ibrahim, Alhaji Sadisu Musa, Dalha Suleiman, Abdullahi Garba, and Saheed Fojebi. Baruwa, who previously served as NURTW president, had earlier led a faction to forcibly reclaim the secretariat, citing a series of court rulings; including a November 2024 Court of Appeal judgment affirming him as the union’s legitimate leader. His move reportedly dislodged the faction loyal to Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo), triggering the confrontation that drew police intervention.
Responding to viral videos alleging that officers shot at union members, Adeh insisted that no police personnel discharged firearms during the operation. “The allegations are false and misleading,” she said. “They are aimed at rousing public sentiments. Our officers acted professionally to restore order and prevent further violence.” The police confirmed that all seven suspects have been charged before Magistrate Court 1, Wuse Zone 2, and that normalcy has been restored to the area. “The Command remains resolute in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all residents of the FCT,” Adeh added.
The NURTW has been embroiled in leadership crises for years, with rival factions frequently clashing over control of state chapters and the national secretariat. The latest confrontation follows months of legal disputes and competing court orders, deepening tensions within one of Nigeria’s most politically influential unions.
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